Author: Kailynn Johnson

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Health and Housing Expo To Address Disparities Among Black Residents

Photo Credit: Shelby County Tennessee Alumnae Chapter

The Shelby County Tennessee Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated are maximizing their efforts to improve health and housing outcomes for residents in the city by hosting a Health and Housing Expo on Saturday, April 12.

“It’s our mission to reach as many as we can in our community to deal with all the different issues that are concerning our Black and brown individuals,” Lai Brooks, the chapter’s second vice president and chair of Program Planning and Development said. “Health is one of the main issues [in Memphis], and our housing economic crisis.”

Information from The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis showed that African Americans make up a majority of the city’s population. A large portion of these individuals have “chronic diseases” such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.

Along with chronic diseases, the institute found “mental health disparities” among Black residents to be “equally concerning” with systemic racism and other societal inequities further complicating the issues.

“Black Americans are less likely than our white counterparts to seek services for mental health,’  Brooks said. “We want to have those mental health providers there — available to talk about signs and symptoms of different mental health disorders. To be physically healthy, your mental health has to also be intact.”

Brooks said the expo will bring health care professionals to the community in an accessible way. Residents will see what health options are available for them whether they have insurance or not. Some resources include the Baptist Women’s Health Center mammography bus, blood pressure and glucose screenings, and HIV testing.

“It is quite important for us to bring those services and resources to the community to be able to show it is okay to tap into these resources,” Brooks said. “Some may not have health insurance and they’re thinking ‘oh I’m not going to be able to seek care,’ but there are free services out there that you can tap into to have wellbeing for your physical and mental health.”

Janet Bedford-Haynes, the chapter’s Economic Development chair, said the expo also seeks to address the city’s home ownership gap.

“It is a fact that the Black homeownership rate is significantly lower than that of white residents,” Bedford said. 

She cited information from the U.S. Census Bureau that found a significant gap between Black and white homeownership. 

“Our goal is to help bridge that wealth gap by providing resources, connecting the community to industry partners, and really advocating for home ownership in this area,” Bedford said. “It is so important we have representation. Having that representation creates a foundation of trust. Sometimes lack of information may prevent someone from seeking those needs when it comes to health or home ownership.”

Lenders will be available to talk about credit, finances, and the steps to homeownership in a relatable way. Bedford said the chapter hopes this will build confidence for Black residents seeking home ownership.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ed Rice Community Center located at 2935 North Watkins Street.

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Interim MATA Leadership Focused on ‘Stabilizing’ Agency

Photo: Justin Fox Burks

The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) said their primary goals are to improve the agency’s operational and financial viability as interim leadership continues efforts to transform the agency.

Today the interim leadership team, comprised of TransPro consultants, gave a monthly update to Memphis City Council’s transportation committee.

John Lewis, interim CEO, said the leadership team has reviewed all non-employee spending to identify “unnecessary and redundant” charges while also stopping “non-safety certification-related travels” for MATA personnel. They have also changed the employee expense reimbursement policies.

“The majority of spending has got to be focused on putting transit service on the street and not towards supporting unnecessary or redundant administrative funding, as has been the practice in the past,” Lewis said. 

Officials also said they have gained access to the agency’s American Express account to suspend usage and look into the previous spending. Lewis said this is to stop future misappropriation of agency funds.

Aaron Headley, interim CFO, said MATA is also working to optimize the city’s investment. They are currently working on minimizing the amount of past-due payments with a target of less than 10 percent.  

Councilwoman Michalyn Easter-Thomas questioned whether the agency had the data to show optimization of the city’s investment, to which officials said this is an intended outcome.

The presentation showed that the amount of past due payables was at 94 percent as of March 7th, and it stayed the same as of March 26th. Headley said this is because they are “laser-focused” on getting more buses on the road and making sure they don’t run out of money.

Lewis said they are working to finalize their FY26 budget with extra focus on “eliminating wasteful spending” from both administration and vendor services.

Councilman Jeff Warren questioned whether or not the agency could switch to smaller buses on routes that aren’t as full. He suggested that this may be a better spend than to continue purchasing larger buses as they could improve cost-saving measures, efficiency, and timeliness.

Lewis explained there are opportunities for smaller vehicles; however, their main concern is stabilizing the agency.

“Getting into service design is further down the road for us,” Lewis said.

Warren responded that stabilizing the agency may be difficult if only a percentage of buses are available to complete routes.

Thomas asked if they are able to receive the data that the agency is using to complete their monthly reports even though officials said they are “ongoing.” Board chair Edmund Ford Sr. said that questions such as these could not be discussed in regular session, but rather in attorney-client session.

Councilwoman Yolanda Cooper-Sutton asked how MATA plans to rebuild the community’s trust in terms of reliability and on-time performance. She said the current model is a “failing” one and advised MATA to not ask for more money if they plan to do the same thing.

“I understand that getting the money is most important, but getting the trust back — what does your model look like?” Sutton asked. “More service on the street, but you don’t have the people to ride. They’ve made other means because they were forced into a place where they had to find other means.”

Anna McQuiston, vice chair of MATA’s board of commissioners, said the interim leadership team realizes that community trust is broken, yet she didn’t think the model was broken; rather, the agency did not deliver on their promises.

“Our number-one priority right now is to deliver on the service that we tell people we’re going to provide,” McQuiston said. “We’re not doing that right now. We’ve got to deliver on time. We need the buses to show up, and that to me is the first step of many that we need to make to build back that community trust. That has been one of the priorities the board has asked for considering all these things.”

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Memphis Library Foundation To Expand Innovator-in-Residence Program

Photo Credit: Memphis Public Libraries via Facebook

Thanks to a new grant, the Memphis Library Foundation will be able to further aid in workforce development by helping residents grow in fields such as entrepreneurship, culinary arts, and digital media. This is all part of the foundation’s Innovator-in-Residence program, which will expand as a result of funds from Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD).

Today, foundation officials announced they received a $300,000 grant from the department. This represents a portion of $167 million in grants TNECD has allocated across Tennessee for workforce advancement.

“This two-year grant will specifically enable the Foundation to expand upon successful Memphis Public Libraries programs and offer additional resources, expertise, and training to local community members seeking to enhance their digital skills and workforce development opportunities,” Memphis Library Foundation officials said in a statement.

As participants work to sharpen their skills, the program will connect them with professionals such as podcasters, chefs, lawyers, and more, who will help them “monetize their talents” while also contributing to growth in the city. 

​The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Industry Report 2024 by the Greater Memphis Chamber and Greater Memphis Economic Research Group found that as of 2021, small businesses accounted for 98.9 percent of businesses in the area.

“By providing access to professional guidance and resources, we aim to create a robust network of aspiring entrepreneurs, contributing to the overall economic growth in our city,” Christine Weinreich, executive director of Memphis Library Foundation, said.

Memphis has been referred to as a “hotbed for entrepreneurship” by Epicenter Memphis. The organization said the city has an advantage over places like San Francisco and New York, which tend to show “startup saturation.” 

The Urban Libraries Council noted the opportunities this Innovators-in-Residence program opens to the city — specifically to African-American communities the library serves.

“Memphis Public Libraries provides access to resources, opportunity, and hope,” the Urban Libraries Council said. “Cossitt Library serves Downtown, where 52 percent of residents are African American and 14 percent live in poverty. The area faces economic disparities, with wealthy neighborhoods near some of the poorest. Raleigh Library patrons are 76 percent African American, and 26 percent live in poverty.”

The program is tailored to the offerings of each library branch. Cossitt Library was home to the initial pilot of the initiative, which led to Ena Esco’s podcast, Verbally Effective. Weinreich said the grant will allow them to expand to five different innovators as opposed to one.

Other libraries will be involved in the program, including Raleigh Library, which houses an “on-site kitchen” where they will focus on culinary skills and development. Officials said they plan to bring in local chefs to help advise participants on how to secure funding for a business and how to manage restaurants.

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Memphis’ First Zero-Waste Store Urges City Towards Sustainability

Photo Credit: Boshi Botanicals

When Boshi Botanicals first opened in 2024, one of the questions that owner Becky Beloin repeatedly heard was “Is Memphis ready for-zero waste?”

Boshi is the city’s first zero-waste store. Located at 3092 Poplar Avenue, Suite 16, the shop offers a number of eco-conscious products, such as refillable bathroom cleaning kits, reusable feminine pads and liners, scrap-felt polish pads and more.

From an optic standpoint, Beloin said Memphis may not appear to be a sustainable city, since it is still common for people to use plastic bags when shopping, and many restaurants still use plastic straws and cutlery, as well as styrofoam to-go containers.

Such habits may indicate the city isn’t prepared to change to a zero-waste lifestyle, but it doesn’t mean there isn’t hope. Beloin said initiatives such as Project Green Fork and Clean Memphis show that efforts are being made to increase understanding of an eco-friendly way of living.

Boshi Botanicals’ goal is to amplify the resources needed for sustainability, while also making them accessible. Beloin said customer feedback has shown that Memphians want to move towards a waste-free way of living, but there hadn’t been a place locally that could sustain it.

Photo Credit: Boshi Botanicals

“We live in a society where it’s so easy to order from Amazon,” Beloin said. “You can order pick-up from Target and obviously [if you purchase from these retailers] you don’t have to remember to bring your bottles.”

Beloin’s store not only encourages customers to bring their refillable bottles and containers, they reward them for it.

The costs of zero-waste can also pose a barrier.  The University of Memphis’ “2024 Poverty Fact Sheet” showed that the city’s poverty rate is 22.6 percent. Beloin noted that the standard cost of living has become increasingly expensive — with many thinking that a shift towards sustainability costing significantly more.

However, she explains, this is a misconception. Many of the items sold at Boshi are refillable and reduce costs, including as wool dryer balls, which can last three-to-five years. 

“It may seem a little higher up-front, but when you actually end up breaking it down, it ends up saving you money,” Beloin said. 

“There’s interest [in zero-waste],” Beloin added. “I think a lot of it is education and getting the information out that there are things that we can all do as individuals to be more sustainable, but I think the city government needs to do things that could increase sustainability as well.”

She acknowledges that individuals can take certain steps towards an eco-friendlier lifestyle, such as using reusable shopping bags. However, she said the city shares a responsibility as well. Beloin suggested that the city evaluate different aspects of non-sustainability that they’d like to eradicate, and look into passing legislation that prevents wastefulness.

“There’s a cost to everything,” Beloin said. “People may say ‘Well, the plastic bag is free’ or ‘styrofoam is free,” but it’s not. It’s built into the cost of your food and it’s also built into the cost of [an] individual’s health.”

Beloin said the Mid-South may not be known for its sustainability, but she thinks Memphis can pioneer a movement by getting rid of pollutants such as styrofoam and plastic.

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Health Department To Hold Public Hearing for xAI Air Permits

Elon Musk. Photo by Trevor Cokley / Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A resolution for the Shelby County Health Department to host a public hearing regarding xAI’s air permits has been passed by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.

The resolution, sponsored by Commissioner Britney Thornton, urged the Shelby County Health Department to host a public meeting “prior to the approval or denial of the permit submitted by CTC Property LLC, an affiliate of xAI for the long-term operations of 15 methane gas turbines in South Memphis.”

Keshaun Pearson, executive director of Memphis Community Against Pollution, said this resolution would suspend the air-permitting process as the permit is not for the “current pollution” but “more pollution,” as xAI intends to bring more turbines in.

Groups such as Young, Gifted, and Green, MCAP, and Black Voters Matter along with several community members have openly condemned the project — with the news of the turbines operating for almost a year further amplifying outrage.

“Elon Musk holds nothing but malice for the people of Memphis [and] Shelby County,” Brandy Price said during the public comment section of the meeting. “To vote in favor of anything that aids Elon Musk will be a stain on yourself.”

Several people have spoken about the environmental risks that the project poses. Jonathan Reid, a resident of South Memphis, urged the commission to not only vote in favor of public hearings, but to “bring science to the table” when evaluating the project.

“I would like to know down the road when Elon Musk do[es] all this gas stuff what’s going to happen to the health of South Memphians?” Barbara Denton, a 72-year resident of South Memphis said. “Health is not being considered. All y’all want is money. It’s all about politics and money when it comes to South Memphis. Why does South Memphis have to get the neglect of being Black – mostly 90 percent? If y’all want to move something, move it Downtown. Let’s move it Downtown and see how it works for you.”

Dr. Michelle Taylor, director of the Shelby County Department of Health, acknowledged the community’s comments and said the public comment period is open now through April 30th. Residents can review xAI’s permit application and leave comments through the department’s website.

“We only can do as much as current legislation allows us to do,” Taylor said. “We did request an EPA community assessment. We requested, twice, in two letters to the EPA in August.  We received a response on November 1 of 2024 saying they could not do the report.”

Taylor assured that the Health Department is committed to being held accountable by both the commission and the community.

The resolution passed 8-3 with one abstaining from voting.

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MATA Announces Termination of Former Interim CEO

Bacarra Maudlin, former Interim CEO of MATA (Photo Credit: Memphis Area Transit Authority)

Bacarra Mauldin, former interim CEO of the Memphis Area Transit Authority, has been fired by the agency. The decision was made by acting CEO of John Lewis and backed by MATA’s board of commissioners.

“This action follows an internal investigation which concluded that Ms. Mauldin violated MATA’s Procurement and Travel Policy, and did not take sufficient steps to ensure compliance among her direct reports,” a statement from the agency said.  “These findings represent a serious breach of the standards and expectations we uphold for all MATA leadership and staff.”

Earlier this month, officials revealed that  a “preliminary review of FY24 General Administrative expenses,” which showed that out of $9.9 million, $848,000 was spent in discretionary spending. This included $603,000 in sponsorship of the Memphis Grizzlies and $144,000 in “other AMEX purchases.” 

Officials said this did not include charges for travel and meetings.

“We asked for detailed statements of that, had to do some digging with American Express — the agency at the time did not have itemized monthly bills, which was not a best practice to say the least,” Lewis said. “After we received itemized statements going back the last couple of years, we found within those purchases, seemingly non-business-related purchases.”

Lewis said these included $5,000 in payments via PayPal and Venmo, $7,000 in purchases at BestBuy, $10,000 in party equipment rental, $30,000 in customizable purchases, and $1,200 in Montblanc purchases to name a few. 

He added that  they brought this to the attention of the city auditor, and as a result the state comptroller has been notified. Lewis and his team has been advised to seek outside counsel for a more thorough investigation. 

At the time, officials said “the former leadership that had possession of the AMEX card has been placed on administrative leave.”

“While personnel matters are typically confidential, we acknowledge the public interest in this situation, given the leadership role involved,” MATA said in a statement. “ Our focus moving forward is to ensure stability, restore trust, and continue providing safe, reliable, and equitable transit services for the people of Memphis.”

Mauldin was named interim CEO following the retirement of former CEO Gary Rosenfeld in February 2024.

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Organizers Urge County Officials Be Held Accountable for xAI Project

Photo: Black Voters Matter

While many residents have criticized Memphis Mayor Paul Young for the city’s role in Elon Musk’s xAI project, community organizers say Shelby County officials should not only be held responsible, they should intervene as well.

On Monday night, the group Black Voters Matter facilitated a virtual conversation called “Stop the xAI Shelby County Takeover” where KeShaun Pearson of Memphis Community Against Pollution said the Shelby County Health Department is responsible for regulating environmental concerns — which have been at the center of the xAI controversy.

To address this, Pearson met with Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris last week about the presence of xAI’s gas turbines — which many did not know had been operating for about a year.

In June 2024, Harris released a statement commending the Greater Memphis Chamber for “leading” the xAI project into fruition and called it a “monumental opportunity for Memphis and Shelby County.”

While Pearson addressed the “atrocity” of the situation, he said Harris is in support of a resolution that is headed to the Shelby County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday before the Commission’s Hospitals and Health Committee.

The resolution, sponsored by Commissioner Britney Thornton, urges the Shelby County Health Department to host a public meeting “prior to the approval or denial of the permit submitted by CTC Property LLC, an affiliate of xAI for the long-term operations of 15 methane gas turbines in South Memphis.”

Pearson said this resolution would suspend the air-permitting process as the permit is not for the “current pollution” but “more pollution,” as xAI intends to bring more turbines in.

“The damage here on a human level in an ecosystem that is trying to flourish, that is so beautiful — it’s so dangerous,” Pearson said. “It’s incumbent, and it’s a responsibility of the people who have signed the paperwork to say they ‘will be employed here and work for the people’ to show up and do that.”

Amber Sherman, local political strategist, said it’s important for people to know “who the power players are” and how these processes work. Sherman’s comments come after MCAP hosted “A Fireside Chat with Mayor Paul Young” on Saturday, March 22nd.

Pearson said the conversation was “representative of what people are feeling,” noting that many people felt “left out of the entire process.” He said he was glad citizens were able to challenge Young on his “positive position” regarding xAI.

Sherman noted that several people wondered why Young “wasn’t doing anything” and felt like Young should have emphasized how “the power works.”

“You’re not throwing someone under the bus to make sure people know who’s responsible,” Sherman said. “Saying that the Shelby County Health Department is the one who issues permits doesn’t throw them under the bus — it just points out the direct target who we should be talking to, so everyone isn’t pissed off at you all the time.”

Pearson noted that while Young may not have all the authority citizens expect him to, he isn’t “absolved” from working on the city’s end.

“What we can’t allow is for people to scapegoat other organizations,” Pearson said. “It is a bit of standing in your power and really using the authority that has been given to you in ways that exist, and not to perform this kind of learned helplessness that ‘we can’t do anything’ [or] ‘I can only do so much.’ Do everything and then get innovative on how to do more.”

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Policy Brief Targets Pride Flag Censorship

Photo Credit: Sophie Emeny via Unsplash

The Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) and the Human Rights Campaign(HRC) have found that Pride flag censorship sends a negative message about LGBTQ+ visibility – despite lawmakers’ continuous efforts to enforce it. 

HB0304 by Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood) has been introduced in the current legislative session. It prohibits government entities from “displaying or allowing display of flags other than Tennessee and U.S. flags on courthouses and public roads and sidewalks.” 

The brief states that the flag is not inherently “political” yet proposed legislation seeks to label them as such. Failed bills categorized them as “unapproved, political flags,” and sought to ban them from flying in “government buildings and public schools.”

“It does not address personal displays inside courthouses and government buildings,” the brief said. “ Its arbitrary enforcement-by-grievance is based on an individual’s beliefs and visual interpretations of abstract or imagined forms of ‘political flags,’ including in constitutionally recognized free speech zones. Individuals can file lawsuits against any Tennessee government entity.”

The agencies published a policy brief regarding flag censorship in Tennessee government and schools. While the state has passed “over 20 anti-LGBTQ+ laws,” since 2019, lawmakers have been unsuccessful in banning the flag, with two bills failing in 2024 (HB304/SB266.)

TEP and HRC said that the government can regulate “its own speech and those speaking on its behalf;” this form of censorship can be deemed by non-governmental bodies as unconstitutional.

The brief emphasizes the historical significance of Pride flags as they represent “identity, unity or division, and pride.” They said it is not affiliated with any political party or religion, and that Tennesseans have celebrated its meaning at different businesses, parks, parades and more.

“For 47 years, rainbows and Pride flags have been displayed to celebrate LGBTQ+ history, figures, and the pursuit of equality around the world,” the brief said. “Pride flags are prominently displayed at Stonewall National Monument in honor of LGBTQ+ trailblazers.”

Another central argument the brief makes is that the flag positively impacts LGBTQ+ representation — specifically in schools. It states that regulating public display of the flag “perpetuates stigma about the LGBTQ+ community.” The HRC found that 46.1 percent of LGBTQ+ youth reported feeling unsafe in schools. The brief states that the Pride flag can symbolize safer and inclusive environments. 

If passed,  the bill  would also open the door for a number of legal battles challenging the constitutionality from schools, as well as from community groups and citizens.

“Tennessee courts have recently sided with groups when local governments refused permitting public Pride events, the brief said. “ Governments across Tennessee will face similar and costly legal challenges if they censor certain speech, or appear to.”

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Proposed Bill Would Limit Big Corporations in Real Estate

Tennesseans may have a better chance at homeownership as a new bill seeks to limit how many homes big corporations can purchase.

Sen Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) and Rep. Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville) have introduced the “Homes Not Hedge Funds Act” to tackle the influence of out-of-state investors and real estate corporations on the housing market.

Under the bill, corporate investors would not be able to purchase more than 100-single family homes in counties with more than 150,000 people for rental purposes. According to lawmakers, these areas are affected the most by “corporate real estate speculation.”

“When corporate landlords control too much of our housing stock, working-class families lose out,” Behn said in a statement. “This bill sets a clear boundary to keep communities stable and homeownership attainable.”

Oliver added that families are not able to attain homeownership because investors are “buying up entire neighborhoods and turning them into rental properties.” The bill acknowledges this and notes that these corporations lower home supply, thus driving up the costs for potential buyers.

“Owning a home is one of the most reliable ways to build wealth, and this bill ensures that more working families have a fair shot at the American Dream,” Oliver said.

According to the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, the state’s Housing Cost Index is at a 10 year high. Officials said this has resulted in the median purchase price doubling.

“Families now spend an average of 45.5 percent of their household income on stable housing,” they added.

A report from the United Way found that 44 percent of households in the state cannot afford basic necessities, with 13 percent earning below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Out of 362,643 households in Shelby County, 15 percent were below the FPL and 30 percent were deemed Asset Limited, Income Constrained Employed (ALICE.)

The United Way’s “United for ALICE” organization defines this group as people who “earn more than the FPL, but not enough to afford the basics where they live.” 

The bill is scheduled to be heard in the Senate State and Local Government Committee on March 18.

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April Mud Island Concert Series Canceled Due to Safety Concerns

Photo Credit: Save Mud Island & The Amphitheater via Facebook

A concert series scheduled at the Mud Island Amphitheater for April has been canceled as the city of Memphis cited “safety hazards” in the projected area.

The Downtown Neighborhood Association of Memphis announced that its concert series scheduled for next month is a “no-go” after receiving a statement from the city’s interim chief operating officer Antonio Adams.

In the statement, Adams said that it’s possible for the space to “once again be a great venue and event space,” but that it would be “irresponsible” for the city to ignore the venue’s dangerous conditions, citing a “financial risk to the city and taxpayers.”

After receiving the news, the group Save Mud Island and The Amphitheater posted a letter they received from a structural engineer that said the space was “structurally sound and safe.” The post said this was the second consultant they had had review the space.

“In my professional opinion, the overall structure appears to be in reasonably sound condition for its age and type of construction and does not pose an immediate threat to its structural capacity,” Jason Crum of Crum Engineering said in the letter. 

While Crum said he believes there are no immediate threats, he did recommend a more “comprehensive analysis” be done by other engineers in various fields. He noted that his assessment did not “confirm code compliance for issues beyond the scope of structural engineering.”

The association noted that they consulted with an ADA professional hired by the city who cited “minor repairs.” Jerred Price, president of the Downtown Neighborhood Association and founder of the Save The Amphitheater movement, went on to say there are other insurance concerns they plan to look into.

“We will continue to work with the mayor’s office to ensure that we can have concerts there in the near future,” Price said in a statement. “We will be meeting with the mayor himself very soon to discuss this conflicting report by the city’s hired architect — after all, we have had not one, but TWO structural engineers walk the property and tell us that the venue would be perfectly safe to host the pop-up concert series.”

In February, the two groups announced “The Comeback Concert Series” slated for April 18th, 19th, and 20th. At the time, Price said their final step was to meet with Memphis River Parks Partnership about the logistics of the event.

Price followed up on these conversations in a livestream where he stated that MRPP’s insurance policy does not cover events held at the amphitheater, but did give insight as to what the organizations would need to host an event.

“We have some questions regarding that liability insurance that we’re going to have to take back to the mayor’s office and the city because it’s a city-owned park [and] structure,” Price said. “I believe that the city’s general liability policy would be covering that particular venue as it covers all city-owned land and property. That’s to my understanding.”

Price said this does not mean they won’t have concerts at the Amphitheater; rather, there are still some “kinks to work through.”